Latinos in the 2012 Election: Idaho

This profile provides key demographic information on Latino eligible voters1 and other major groups of eligible voters in Idaho.2 All demographic data are based on Pew Hispanic Center tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 American Community Survey.3

Hispanics in Idaho’s Eligible Voter Population

The Hispanic population in Idaho ranks 34th in the nation.4 About 177,000 Hispanics reside in Idaho, 0.3% of all Hispanics in the United States.

Idaho’s population is 11% Hispanic, the 16th largest Hispanic population share nationally.

There are 69,000 Hispanic eligible voters in Idaho—ranking 32nd in Hispanic eligible voter population nationally. California ranks first with 5.9 million.

Some 6% of Idaho eligible voters are Hispanic, the 16th largest Hispanic eligible voter share nationally. New Mexico ranks first with 39%.

Nearly four-in-ten (39%) Hispanics in Idaho are eligible to vote, ranking Idaho 26th nationwide in the share of the Hispanic population that is eligible to vote. By contrast, about three-quarters (74%) of the state’s white population is eligible to vote.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters

Age. More than one-third of Hispanic eligible voters in Idaho (37%) are ages 18 to 29, slightly higher than the share of all Latino eligible voters nationwide (33%) in that age range. By contrast, only 22% of all Idaho eligible voters and of all U.S. eligible voters are ages 18 to 29.

Citizenship and Nativity.Among Hispanic eligible voters in Idaho, 18% are naturalized U.S. citizens. This compares with 25% of Hispanic eligible voters in the U.S. and just 3% of all eligible voters in Idaho and 8% of eligible voters in the U.S overall.

Hispanic Origin.Hispanic eligible voters in Idaho have a different Hispanic origin profile from Hispanic eligible voters nationwide. More than eight-in-ten (84%) Hispanic eligible voters in Idaho are of Mexican origin, 4% of Puerto Rican origin and 12% claim other Hispanic origin. Among all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide, a smaller share (59%) are Mexican, a larger share (14%) are Puerto Rican, and about a quarter (26%) are of some other Hispanic origin.

Educational Attainment.Nearly three-in-ten of Latino eligible voters in Idaho (28%) have not completed high school, almost triple the 10% of all Idaho eligible voters who have not completed high school.

Homeownership. About half of Hispanic eligible voters in Idaho (51%) live in owner-occupied homes, less than the share of all Hispanic eligible voters nationwide (58%). Greater shares of all eligible voters in Idaho (72%) and all eligible voters nationwide (69%) live in owner-occupied homes.

Characteristics of Eligible Voters in Idaho, by Race and Ethnicity

Number of Eligible Voters.White eligible voters outnumber Hispanic eligible voters in Idaho by more than 14 to 1.

Age. Latino eligible voters are younger than white eligible voters in Idaho. Some 37% of Latinos are ages 18 to 29, compared with 21% of white eligible voters.

Educational Attainment. Hispanic eligible voters have lower levels of high school education than do white eligible voters in Idaho. Some 28% of Hispanic eligible voters have not obtained a high school diploma compared with 9% of white eligible voters.

Homeownership. Hispanic eligible voters (51%) are less likely to live in owner-occupied homes than white eligible voters (74%) in Idaho.

Eligible voters are defined as U.S. citizens ages 18 and older. Eligible voters are not the same as registered voters. To cast a vote, in all states except North Dakota, an eligible voter must first register to vote. ↩

The terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” are used interchangeably. References to other races and ethnicities are to the non-Hispanic components of those populations. ↩

This statistical profile of eligible voters is based on the Census Bureau’s 2010 American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS is the largest household survey in the United States, with a sample of about 3 million addresses. The data used for this statistical profile come from the 2010 ACS Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS), representing a 1% sample of the U.S. population. Like any survey, estimates from the ACS are subject to sampling error and (potentially) measurement error. More information is available on ACS sampling strategy and associated error. ↩

Rankings for “Percent of Hispanic population eligible to vote” are based on the District of Columbia and the 46 states whose Hispanic samples in the 2010 ACS are large enough to generate reliable estimates. All other rankings are based on the District of Columbia and the 50 states. ↩

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.